Torin shook his head. “That’s not the way hauntings work. The croft itself? Aye, I wouldna go near it until the bodies are put tae ground proper. That place is surely haunted. Tis why I rode so far in the night tae get a distance away, but the man inna hauntin’ their horses, or their clothes, or balms. Nae, that inna how it works.”
“Fine, but I don’t want to put it on. Maybe it’s not haunted, but it’s still gross.”
“As ye wish, Princess.” He picked up the flask, pulled the stopper, sniffed, and offered it. “Have some. Tis whisky.”
I shook my head.
He arched his brow. “Tis because of the dead man’s haunting of it?”
“No, It’s because his lips were probably on it.”
Torin took a long swallow, then grimaced at the burn. He passed it to me anyway. “There, ye daena mindmylips, ye kissed ‘em of yer own accord.”
I said, “Very funny,thatwas a moment of weakness. It won’t happen again.”
“I ken, and even if it did happen, I wouldna kiss ye back.”
I drew down my brow. “Why… I mean, I won’t, but why wouldn’t you?”
“Because ye are a princess! Tis a good way for a lowly servant such as m’self, tae lose their head. Ye daena want me tae lose my head?”
“Of course not, but I don’t believe the whole royal thing, so it’s not an issue.”
“Are ye tryin’ tae talk me intae kissing ye again?”
I blew hair from my forehead. “No, I can’t really remember what my point was.”
Torin unwrapped the strip of meat and tore a piece free with his teeth, chewing steadily. He held out the other half.
I pinched it between two fingers, took the tiniest bite, and chewed. And chewed. And chewed. It felt like gnawing leather soaked in salt.
“What meat is this, you think?” I passed the rest back to him.
“Likely venison,” he said, unbothered. “Ye daena want it?”
“Nope. That was plenty.”
He ripped it apart with his teeth and finished it without hesitation. Then he crouched and set the smallest sliver down in front of Dude. The cat sniffed delicately, gave one disdainful lick, then sat back and began washing his paw instead.
I laughed. “See? Even Dude thinks it’s gross and I’ve seen him eat a whole mouse, fur and all.”
Torin said, “He is a wild beast, that one. He wants tae hunt his meat on his own.”
Then he added, “Now I am fed, I must wash.” He pulled off his boots. “I ought tae go down river so I winna shock ye with the sight of m’arse, Princess, but I daena want tae leave yer side.”
“I don’t want you to leave, my um… side, that is… not a good idea. I will turn my back and won’t look.”
“Ye winna tell anyone that I bathed in front of ye?” His belt and sword were placed down on the rocks.
“Of course not. I won’t look, it’s fine.”
He peeled his long socks off.
I turned around and heard his kilt hit the ground behind me with a soft thud.
There was another rustling, the tug of a shirt being pulled off —was he naked? He was naked, right? Oh God, what if I actually saw him naked?
More movement, the shuffle of boots set aside, then bare footsteps on the rocks. I couldn’t stop myself — I risked a glance.
